| Lahore to Longsight | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 2001 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Indus Records | |||
| Producer | Aziz Ibrahim | |||
| Aziz Ibrahim chronology | ||||
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Lahore to Longsight is the debut album of British musician Aziz Ibrahim. Ibrahim describes it as being 'Asian Blues', the album title describes his family's journey from Lahore to Longsight, Lahore being the second largest city of Pakistan and Longsight Aziz's birthplace in inner city Manchester, where he still lives.
The Album was recorded over at various studios around the country, and is graced with guest appearances from Paul Weller, Steve White, Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, Talvin Singh, Gary Mounfield (Mani), Alan Wren (Reni) and Inder Goldfinger. All tracks were produced by Aziz Ibrahim and barring a couple, were written, and arranged by Aziz Ibrahim. The two co-writes on the album are titled "Korma Coma" and 'Mummys' Boy'. The former written with his live band, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, the latter Inspired by Reni. [1]
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by Aaron Warshaw
Aziz Ibrahim might forever be known as the man who took what Noel Gallagher called "the hardest job in the world": replacing John Squire in The Stone Roses. Ibrahim was raised by Pakistani immigrants in Manchester, England, and showed a natural musical ability at an early age. His first professional experience was touring with Simply Red in the late '80s, and he went on to play with the aging prog rock act Asia in the mid-'90s. In 1996, Ibrahim was announced as Squire's replacement on guitar, who had just left The Stone Roses after a messy split. Ibrahim's first appearance in the Roses came at the 1996 Benicassim Festival (Spain) and then the Reading Festival (U.K.), generally regarded as the final nail in the coffin for a band, which by then had suffered half a decade of quiet and not-so-quiet implosion. Despite this, Ibrahim's playing faithfully and capably replicated Squire's parts; huge shoes to fill, those of someone considered to be among the pantheon of British guitar gods. Indeed, Ibrahim is quite a virtuosic musician, playing naturally in a style that reflects his Eastern heritage and is situated somewhere between raga and hard rock. Despite the demise of the Roses, Ibrahim continued to work with the band's singer, Ian Brown, who had perhaps a surprising career resurrection as a solo artist beginning with 1998's Unfinished Monkey Business. He went on to contribute to several tracks on Brown's follow-up, Golden Greats, and become a semi-permanent member of Brown's touring band. Also during the late '90s, Ibrahim began his own solo career; debuting with the standout track 'Morassi' which featured contributions from Eastern electronic guru Talvin Singh and ex-Roses bassist Mani. Taking time off from work with Brown, Aziz Ibrahim released his own solo album in 2001, titled Lahore to Longsight (Lahore being a city in Pakistan, Longsight being the neighborhood of Manchester where he grew up). The album was released on Ibrahim's own Indus Records, an independent label based in Manchester. The all-star musicians Ibrahim was able to pull in to work on his solo debut—including Paul Weller and his compatriot Steve White, as well as the ex-Smiths rhythm section of Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce—clearly indicated the high esteem Ibrahim's peers hold him in the realm of British rock.
~ Aaron Warshaw, All Music Guide
Dean Carlson from Microsoft Music, regarding the albums says that former Stone Roses replacement Aziz Ibrahim is one of those musicians who demands the sort of loyalty known of mutual friends and in-laws, but where the average session grunt can't discern arrogance from reality, Aziz fights for his own strain of luck and skill long enough to pick up the clarity of Arthur Lee and chew on its rind. On the baronial "Living a Lie," he has created something as unique as the Housemartins steeped in political intrigue, with a slightly Eastern arrangement, and in "Mummy's Boy" you get the kind of song the Wonder Stuff would have made if they ever had conviction. But Aziz also seems somewhat unprepared for a full LP, wobbling out after the first act. While Paul Weller; Talvin Singh; ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce; and ex-Roses Reni and Mani all slot appearances, Aziz is able to build upon the musical themes he sets up with this remarkable pool of talent, but not missing out on the freedom and self-scrutiny that a solo effort like this typically allows. Lahore to Longsight is remarkable for what it is, then, but also for the fact it even exists at all, a debut which accomplishes more than it should while succeeding far more than its gluttonous nexus of musicians implies. [2]
The Stone Roses were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. One of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band's classic and most prominent lineup consisted of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Reni.
The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce, are regarded as one of the most important to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.
Gary "Mani" Mounfield is an English rock bassist, best known for being a member of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream.
Alan John "Reni" Wren is an English rock drummer and member of The Stone Roses.
Ian George Brown is an English singer and multi-instrumentalist. He was the lead singer of the alternative rock band the Stone Roses from their formation in 1984. Following the split in 1996, he began a solo career, releasing seven studio albums, a greatest hits compilation, a remix album, an 11-disc box set titled Collection, and 19 singles. He has performed solo shows in 45 countries. He returned to singing for the Stone Roses in 2011, although this did not spell the end of his solo endeavours, releasing First World Problems through Virgin/EMI Records on 25 October 2018. He had a cameo appearance in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Jonathan Thomas Squire, known professionally as John Squire, is an English musician, songwriter and artist. He was the guitarist for The Stone Roses, a rock band in which he formed a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ian Brown. After leaving the Stone Roses he went on to found The Seahorses and has since released two solo albums. In 2007, Squire gave up music to fully commit to painting. However, he later returned to music when the Stone Roses reformed in 2011.
Steve Hogarth also known as "h", is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Since 1989 he has been the lead singer of the British rock band Marillion, for which he also performs additional keyboards and guitar. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with the Europeans and vocalist with How We Live. AllMusic has described Hogarth as having a "unique, expressive voice" with "flexible range and beautiful phrasing".
The Seahorses were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1996 by guitarist John Squire, following his departure from The Stone Roses.
Andrew Michael Rourke is an English musician, best known as the bassist of the Smiths. He is known for his melodic approach to bass playing.
Michael Adrian Paul Joyce is an English drummer. He is best known as the drummer for the Smiths, an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982.
Longsight is an inner city area of Manchester, England, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the city centre, bounded by Ardwick and West Gorton to the north, Belle Vue to the east, Levenshulme to the south, and Chorlton-on-Medlock, Victoria Park and Fallowfield to the west. Historically in Lancashire, it had a population of 15,429 at the 2011 census.
Unfinished Monkey Business is the debut solo album by Ian Brown released in February 1998 via Polydor Records. The album was self-financed and produced by Brown, and was his first album release since the break-up of The Stone Roses in October 1996. Ex-Roses members Mani, Nigel Ipinson, Aziz Ibrahim and Robbie Maddix helped pen and perform the instruments on many of the album's tracks. "Ice Cold Cube", which premiered at The Stone Roses final concert, was first released on this album.
The Complete Stone Roses is a compilation of singles and B-sides by English rock band The Stone Roses. It was released in 1995 without the band's input by their record company Silvertone, with whom they were embroiled in a protracted legal battle to terminate their five-year contract.
Aziz-Ur-Rahman Ibrahim is a British musician. He was born in Longsight, Manchester to Pakistani parents. He is best known for his work as guitarist with Simply Red, The Stone Roses and their former vocalist Ian Brown in whose band he regularly performs – both in the studio and live. He is also a member of the H Band with Marillion's lead singer Steve Hogarth and is involved in the writing of the second H Band album. He has also worked with Paul Weller, Steven Wilson, Asia and contributed to The Players' debut album Clear the Decks.
"Ten Storey Love Song" is a song by The Stone Roses, released as the second single from their album Second Coming on 27 February 1995. It was written by guitarist John Squire.
"Can't See Me" is a song by Ian Brown. It was written by Brown and Mani and produced by Brown. The song was remixed by Bacon & Quarmby and released as the third single from Brown's debut solo album Unfinished Monkey Business. It was released in June 1998, and rose to number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's lyrics refer to an incident when Brown saw His former Stone Roses band-mate John Squire in a village in Hale, Greater Manchester, not long after the split of the band. According to this story, Brown waved to Squire, but Squire hid behind a newspaper and would not acknowledge him.
ALL FM is a local community radio station serving south, central and east Manchester and based in the South Manchester suburb of Levenshulme. The station is run by paid staff and volunteers living in its coverage area.
Rusholme Rock is the second album by former Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim on Indus Records. The album has been licensed through the Italian label 'EGEA Records' in conjunction with 'SAM Productions' and was released on 29 March 2012.
The Rub were an English rock band, formed in 1998 in Whalley Range, Manchester by former Stone Roses drummer Alan "Reni" Wren.